* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES...

IN PUERTO RICO PONCE AND ADJUNTAS

* UNTIL 530 PM AST

* AT 231 PM AST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS SHOWERS ANDISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE ADVISORY AREA. THESE AREAS OF SHOWERSAND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING MODERATE TO HEAVYRAINFALL WHICH WILL LEAD TO RAPID RISES ON SMALL STREAMS ANDCREEKS...AS WELL AS MINOR FLOODING ALONG ROADWAYS...THROUGH AT LEAST530 PM AST.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTOAREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLYDEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFULENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODEDROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

Most of Guam’s native birds have gone extinct due to the lusty appetite of an invading reptile species: the brown tree snake.

Shortly after World War II, the rapacious snake invaders stowed aboard military ships from the South Pacific and landed on Guam. After they slithered ashore, the snakes took up residence in the inviting plush island's thick jungles. Today, their population numbers are in the millions, and they have been causing havoc on this small United States territory now for over 60 years.

The brown tree snake generally measures a few feet in length, but under the right conditions they can grow to be over 10 feet long. The native bird population was decimated within just a few decades by the nocturnal marauders. These snakes are also adept at climbing power wires and poles, causing power outages, and often wander into people’s homes, biting both adults and babies. The snakes have also adversely affected Guam’s tourist trade by killing off the wildlife native to the island. However, they are rarely observed outside their jungle habitat. While the reptiles use venom on their prey, fortunately it’s not lethal to humans. Nonetheless these snakes are considered dangerous pests.

In order to reduce the population of the island’s predatory pillagers, according to a story featured on National Public Radio, dead neonatal mice laced with acetaminophen, (the active ingredient in painkillers such as Tylenol) will be dropped this coming April or May one at a time by hand over Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base, an area which is surrounded by heavy foliage. This mice-drop strategy has been perfected by U.S. government scientists with support from the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense.

Since the snakes are perfectly content to eat prey they did not kill themselves, the dead mice will be enticing to them. And although acetaminophen is harmless to humans, it is highly toxic to the snakes.

To prevent the bait from falling to the ground where it may kill innocent wildlife, the mice are fitted with flotation devices that have streamers designed to be caught in the tree branches where the snakes live and feed. William Pitt, of the U.S. National Wildlife Research Center's Hawaii field station said, "One concern was that crows may eat mice with the toxicant. However, there are no longer wild crows on Guam. We will continue to refine methods to increase efficiency and limit any potential non-target hazards."

While this strategy may work to preserve what remains of the native birds and to reduce the risks to island residents being caused by the burgeoning brown tree snake population, this writer wonders what unwanted side-effects may result from what sounds like a gruesome and potentially dangerous plan. Since acetaminophen is extremely toxic to felines, if feral or outdoor cats consume one of these mice, they are destined for a painful death. Will the torrent of acetaminophen-laced neonatal mice raining down on the targeted area eventually end up as throwing out the baby with the bath water?

...The potential for periods of heavy rains and flash flooding isexpected to continued at least until later today.

.The low pressure system northwest of the area will continue todisrupt the local weather pattern and maintain a very light southwestwind flow across the region during the day. The combination of lightwinds, available low level moisture and good sea breeze convergencewill all support another day of enhanced convection across parts ofthe central interior and northern half of Puerto Rico. In addition,daytime heating and local terrain effects will continue to play animportant part in creating conditions conducive to the developmentof enhanced afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The local soil isfairly saturated and rivers still remain above normal levels. Anyadditional moderate to heavy rainfall will only aggravate the situationand likely cause quick rising of water levels and flooding of streamsand rivers in Puerto Rico. Mudslide and debris flow will also remainpossible in areas of steep terrain due to loose and unstable soil.For this reason the Flash flood watch will remain in effect untillater this afternoon. Residents and visitors are urged to exercisecaution along rivers and streams and in flood prone areas.

* A portion of Puerto Rico, including the following areas, Central Interior, Eastern Interior, Mayaguez and Vicinity, North Central, Northeast, Northwest, Ponce and Vicinity, San Juan and Vicinity, Southeast, Southwest, and Western Interior.

* Through this afternoon

* Showers and thunderstorms with areas of heavy rain are expected to develop over the interior sections of Puerto Rico and slowly spread north and east leaving anywhere between 2 to 5 inches in the most affected flood prone areas during the afternoon.

* These heavy rains will bring rapid rises in area rivers and streams and will make transiting on roads and low lying areas impassable. This may also may trigger dangerous mudslides and debris flow without warning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that leadto flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take actionshould Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Puerto Rico and the adjacentAtlantic Coastal Waters.

.Day One...Today and Tonight

.Thunderstorms...There is a chance of thunderstorms with heavyrainfall and brief gusty winds this afternoon across portions ofthe interior and northeastern Puerto Rico.

.Flooding...Heavy rains could lead to flash flooding and/or minorurban and small stream flooding.

.Rip Currents...There is a moderate risk of rip currents for thenorthern beaches of Puerto Rico.

.Days Two through Seven...Saturday through Thursday

At least through Sunday, trough pattern across the eastern Caribbeanand a very moist and unstable environment will maintain a highpotential for showers and isolated thunderstorm development across theislands. Due to already saturated soils urban and small streamflooding is expected with any additional periods of heavy rainfall.

.Spotter information statement...

Widespread spotter activation is not anticipated, however individualspotters are encouraged to report flooding to the National WeatherService in San Juan.

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the U.S. Virgin Islands and theADJACENT Coastal Waters.

.Day One...Today and Tonight

.Flooding...Heavy rains could lead to ponding of water on roadways andin poor drainage areas.

.Days Two through Seven...Saturday through Thursday

At least through Sunday, trough pattern across the eastern Caribbeanand a very moist and unstable environment will maintain a highpotential for showers and isolated thunderstorm development across theislands. The heavy rains will cause ponding of water on roadways andmay lead to minor urban and small stream/gut flooding.

.Spotter information statement...

Widespread spotter activation is not anticipated, however individualspotters are encouraged to report flooding to the National WeatherService in San Juan.

At a GlanceSuper Typhoon Yutu has become the strongest typhoon of record to pass over Saipan and Tinian.Destructive winds, storm surge flooding and flooding rainfall will occur.Guam will experience gusty winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain.Super Typhoon Yutu is now moving away from the Northern Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific Ocean after becoming the strongest typhoon of record to pass over the U.S. territories of Saipan and Tinian.

The eyewall of Yutu has now pushed west of the islands of Saipan and Tinian in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Yutu may eventually arrive in the Philippines, Taiwan or southern Japan next week.

For now, maximum sustained winds remain solidly Category 5 intensity, near 175 mph, as of the latest advisory from the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Winds gusted to 103 mph at Saipan International Airport before wind data stopped transmitting as the eyewall moved in. Some gusts over 50 mph have been measured on Guam, along with bands of rain.

In a post-global disaster world, predators and tyrants will have the best two-way radios, and they'll use them to surveil you at a comfortable distance.

What will you have? Signal flares and red bandannas?

If so, when you least expect it, the predators and tyrants will come to take a spoil and they will torture, rape, and kill without mercy.

This is why Radio Free Earth authors Marshall Masters and Duane W. Brayton have an urgent message for everyone with a serious interest in preparedness. That being, analog RF (radio frequency) is the heartbeat of freedom. Accept no substitutes.

Watch our free videos to learn how to stay safe and free with an affordable strategy for two way communication, both near and far.